Xiao Zhao, MD

Gina Badalato, M.D., Associate Professor of Urology, joined our faculty in December 2014 as part of the clinical team serving general urology patients. A graduate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and one of the Department’s former residents and clinical fellows, Dr. Badalato specializes in voiding dysfunction, female urology, and stone disease. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Badalato plays an important role in the Department’s education mission by serving as Director of Medical Education and advisor to Columbia P&S students. Dr. Badalato has research interest stone disease, voiding dysfunction and medical education outcomes. She has co-authored numerous articles on these and other topics in urology.

Diane George, MD cares for children and adolescents undergoing stem cell transplantation as a treatment for cancer (particularly leukemia and lymphoma), noncancerous blood disorders (like sickle cell anemia), and immunodeficiencies. She specializes in transplantation for patients who don't have a related bone marrow donor, and also takes care of patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation for solid tumors. Dr. George was originally attracted to the field of pediatric oncology because she wanted to take on the challenge of fighting pediatric cancer, and stem cell transplantation offers the ultimate cure in select patients. It is a complex medical field, and Dr. George enjoys being able to take care of children with complex medical conditions. Dr. George also conducts clinical research. She is currently evaluating a procedure called "CD34-selected stem cell transplantation" to remove T-cells from donor bone marrow. This approach reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) - a potential complication of bone marrow transplantation in which T-cells from the donor attack the tissue of the recipient. This approach benefits patients who do not have a well-matched family donor, and it could potentially make bone marrow transplantation an option for more patients. Dr. George is also interested in studying how a patient's immune system rebuilds itself after CD34-selected stem cell transplantation. At NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, every member of a child's healthcare team shares the same compassion and dedication to helping them get well. Dr. George looks forward each day to the camaraderie, intellectual stimulation, and problem-solving she shares with fellow team members. After being in the field for more than 20 years, Dr. George uses the knowledge and experience she has gained to benefit patients and their families.

Luona Sun, MD is a board-certified breast surgeon trained in minimal invasive nipple sparing mastectomy, skin sparing mastectomy, intraoperative radiation therapy and various frontline localization skills. She is also an active researcher, focusing on rare diagnoses like small cell carcinoma in breast cancer and high risk lesion management in patients with coexisting cancer. One of her major research interests is in Asian American breast cancer disparities. Dr. Sun received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook University, her medical degree from SUNY Buffalo, and completed her general surgery residency at New York Presbyterian Queens/Weill Cornell Medical Center before coming to Columbia for her fellowship training. Over the course of that time, she earned several honors for her research work, including winning the Theresa and Eugene Lang Research Award and presenting her international collaboration with China’s 301 General Hospital at the American Society of Breast Surgeons 2019. Dr. Sun can conduct surgical consultations in Chinese as well as English.